MPR News editor-at-large and retired host Gary Eichten has worn many hats during his 40-plus-year career at Minnesota Public Radio, including news director, special events producer and station manager. He has served as host for Minnesota Public Radio's live, special events news coverage, and has hosted all of the major news programs on Minnesota Public Radio, including Midday, which he hosted for more than 20 years.
A graduate of St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota, Eichten began his career at Minnesota Public Radio as a student announcer at KSJR (Minnesota Public Radio's first station). Among the honors Eichten has received during his career is the Corporation for Public Broadcasting award for best local news program. He also assisted in the development of two Peabody award-winning documentaries. In 2007, he was inducted into the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting's Hall of Fame. Eichten has also been awarded the prestigious 2011 Graven Award by the Premack Public Affairs Journalism Awards Board for his contribution to excellence in the journalism profession.
June 14, 1994 - A Midday interview with Minnesota State Senator Gene Merriam on taxpayer liability for bonds.
June 14, 1994 - Conservative political activist Marsie Leier comments on waves of change in Independent Republican Party and talks of a Independent Republican purge.
June 3, 1994 - A Midday program from the DFL Convention. Host Gary Eichten interviews Ann Wynia, the DFL Party's candidate for U.S. Senate, who discusses campaign issues. Wynia also answers listener questions.
June 2, 1994 - John Kim Munholland, history professor at University of Minnesota, talks about WWII in Italy and Allies push to defeat Mussolini.
June 2, 1994 - MPR’s Euan Kerr reports on NEA (National Endowment for the Arts)'s Jane Alexander speaking at Minnesota Meeting. Alexander’s speech is part of a local conference on the power of art in collaborating with kids.
May 30, 1994 - DFL Party Chair Rick Stafford comments on upcoming DFL convention. John Marty and Mike Freeman, are the two main candidates battling for delegate endorsement.
May 30, 1994 - Midday’s Gary Eichten talks with Matthew Ramadan, member of Nation of Islam in Minnesota, about the differences between his religious organization and Louis Farrakhan’s Black nationalist organization, the Nation of Islam.
May 27, 1994 - Elmer Birney, ecology professor at University of Minnesota, discusses the study of animal behavior within a reserve.
May 27, 1994 - A Midday call-in discussion about family values and the importance of family to American culture. Guests Ambassador Arvonne Fraser, U.S. representative to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women; and Kate O'Bierne of the Heritage Foundation and former deputy assistant secretary of Health and Human Services in the Reagan Administration.
May 25, 1994 - As part of a MPR’s look at the family, Midday presents a selection of tape excerpts from speeches on family, including Dan Quayle's controversial "Murphy Brown" speech. Other speeches include Bill Clinton, Suzanne Dworkin, and David Blankenhorn.